NORFOLK, Va. — Barbara Ciara has been a fixture in Hampton Roads television news for more than 40 years, but the award-winning journalist is just as well-known nationwide for her advocacy for journalists of color.
“It was about representation [of Black journalists] in numbers. It was about representation in stories,” said Barbara during her conversation with me about her legacy. “Are [journalists of color] well represented in newsrooms? Not just in the front [of the camera] like an anchor position, but in the back? Are we producers? Are we news directors? Are we general managers? Are we owners?”
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News 3's Barbara Ciara begins new chapter after 50-year journalism career
Barbara’s advocacy began earlier in her career in Hampton as a leader of the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals.
“She was definitely a champion for everyone in the newsroom, especially African-American women,” said former WVEC-TV news reporter Bonita Billingsley Harris.
“We fought for greater inclusion,” said Arthur Fennel, a former WAVY-TV news anchor, Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals president, and National Association of Black Journalists president. “We fought to make sure our stories were being told […] and to make sure it was being told in a realistic light, not chock full of stereotypes and negativity.”
WATCH: Thanks For The Company: News 3's Barbara Ciara begins new chapter after 50-year journalism career
“I had someone I knew was in my corner,” said former WAVY-TV news reporter Art Franklin, who recalled Barbara’s push for Black journalists to be compensated fairly. “[WAVY-TV] offered me the salary that I thought I deserved at the time because of Barbara Ciara.”
On a mission to back more Black journalists, Barbara’s leadership ambitions took her from leading HRBMP, to being elected regional director of the National Association of Black Journalists, to her hard-fought victory to become president of NABJ from 2007-2009.
“At those conferences, Barbara had rock star status,” said Delores Teklu, Barbara’s friend and former campaign manager. “She fought for doors to be opened [for Black journalists]. She fought for access to jobs. Access to training. Access for opportunities to cover stories. Access to scholarships and fellowships.”
I was a senior in college when I met Barbara while she was campaigning for the NABJ presidency during the 2007 NABJ Convention in Las Vegas. Her charm, passion and wisdom won me over, as it did so many others.
“It caught fire with me, this amazing opportunity to be on a national stage and lobby for journalism, and journalists of color,” she said.
After Barbara’s term as NABJ president ended, she served as the leader of UNITY: Journalists of Color for a year. She was the face of the fight for equity and inclusion for journalists of color.
“She was amazing and so diplomatic, yet stern!” recalled Kathy Times, her served as a vice president in NABJ during Barbara’s presidency. Under Barabra’s leadership, Kathy helped lead a nationwide diversity census of newsrooms. She said Barbara and the board challenged news executives face-to-face when they failed to meet the mark.
Kathy told me, “Barbara could rip you in half in such a nice way!”
“When [Barbara] lowers her eyes over her glasses, look out because you know that she means business,” said former NABJ Program Director Ryan Williams. “We are a more diverse and equitable and inclusive newsroom, it's because of the work that she has done.”
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Barbara even faced off with CBS News executives when they failed to promote her former colleague, Byron Pitts.
He shared with me, “Anyone who has ever said more than hello to me in journalism knows it was always my dream to get ‘60 Minutes.' She said, ‘Young brother, you got it! You got what it takes! Stay the course!’“
He went on to say, “That dream came true, but would not have come true without the advocacy of Barbara Ciara in her powerful position as NABJ President.”
Byron now serves as co-anchor of ABC News Nightline, another achievement he attributes to Barbara’s early support.
“She is one of my real heroes. She’s one of the people that inspire me,” he said.
“She’s the person that people go to when they say ‘I don’t like they way they’re treating me,'” said Lisa Godley, current president of HRBMP. “You know that there’s somebody there that has your back.”
“It makes a difference when you've got somebody not only cheering you from the sidelines, but also in the game and in the fight with you,” said Barbara’s friend and HRBMP member Karen Eure.
“There are some people who step into the fray, and there are others who say, ‘Well, that's not my job.’ Barbara has always stepped into the fray,” said Charles Robinson, former NABJ regional director.
Barbara said, “Journalists are always asking other people to step up, and we have to step up for ourselves.”
